Female Video Gamers Fight Sexual Harassment

Women are often treated badly online, and now it's getting attention

(Newser)
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At first, competitive fighting gamer Miranda Pakozdi tried to laugh off her coach's comments about her bra size or body, his tendency to train the team webcam on her legs and chest, and even the time he sniffed her as a punishment. But when she heard him defend his behavior, arguing that "the sexual harassment is part of our culture," she quit. It's one of a few recent incidents that have gotten the video game community talking about the abuse it often showers on women, the New York Times reports.

In another incident, feminist moviemaker Anita Sarkeesian posted a Kickstarter campaign for a video documenting sexist tropes in games, only to be showered with negative comments and personal threats—one man even made a Flash game in which players punched Sarkeesian in the face. But there are positive signs as well. Sarkeesian's video wound up trouncing its goal, and many women are now speaking up about their experiences with blogs like this one. Microsoft recently promised to revamp its X-Box Live system to better police harassing comments.

The gaming industry is actually in the process of changing. I think there's a small group of male gamers who feel like gaming belongs to them, and are really terrified of that change.
- Anita Sarkeesian

Well Anita Sarkeesian. If you make a movie about hate and misandry people will respond with criticism. Perfectly natural. Calling anyone who disagrees with your hate sexist is an old move. Get your feminazi ass in gear and keep being irrelevant.

thirdimpact

Aug 2, 2012 10:07 PM CDT

Once upon a time Newser used to actually be a news website...

dawnarun

Aug 2, 2012 5:38 PM CDT

Just like in the real world, there are women in gaming communities who are totally chill, others who are uptight bitches, some who are complete attention whores, others who don't want any attention paid to them whatsoever. Then there are a whole bunch of girls who fall between those extremes.
And just like in the real world, those women should be free to be whatever and whoever the fuck they want without being harassed.

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